Appliance for musical instruction



May 12, 1925.

J. F. MANN APPLIANCE FOR uusxcu. zus'mucnon Filed June 28, 1921' .E T1 qawvoutoz Jessie EMAIL/b 8313- her alibi I M Patented May 12, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

JESSIE F. MANN, OF LONG LAKE, NEW YORK.

APPLIANCE FOR- MUSIGAL INSTRUCTION.

Application filed June 23, 1921. Serial No. 481,031.

To all hom 2'5 may concern Be it known that I, Jnssm F. MANN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Long Lake, in the county of Hamiltonand the State of New York, have invented new and useful Appliances forMusical Instruction, of which the following i a specification.

My invention relates to an appliance for use in the teachingof music,more especially for class instruction, as, for example, in publicschools.

The ordinary method of showing the development of key signatures, therelation of scales to their corresponding signatures, and therelationship between major and minor keys and scales has included theuse of print ed charts, and the use of notes Written by the teacher on astaff drawn on the blackboard by the stall-marker. For pitch drills theteacher sometimes uses her hand, pointing to the fingers for certainnotes, and to the spaces between, for other notes. These methods aretime consuming, and are often confusing because of the numerous notesnecessary for expressing one musical idea. They provide no concretedemonstration of the fact that all major scales, and that all minorscales, are exactly alike in form.

An object of my invention is to provide an appliance by means of whichmusical instruction may be rendered more facile, certain, and rapid.

Other objects of my invention are to provide such an appliance adaptedfor instruction in the development of key signatures,

or the relation of scales to their correspond ing signatures, or theinterrelationship between the major scales and the minor scales (eithernatural, harmonic, or melodic), or for any, or for all, of thecombinations of, the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide an appliance which may beheld in I the hand for pitch drills, or placed in selec ed positionsalongside the stall (traced on the board by the stail-marker) for scale,signature or transposition instruction. i

In the accompanying drawings I have shown both a major scale and acombination device, and indicated various uses for each device. Idesire, however, that both the drawings and the following explanationshall be considered as illustrating the invention rather than limitingit.

Fig. 1 illustrates one form of major scale device;

Fig. 2 illustrates a combination device for both 11 ajor and minorscales;

Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive illustrate the location of the device of Fig. 1as used in teaching the scales and signatures in the keys of C and Fmajor respectively;

Figs. 6 and '7 illustrate the location of the device of Fig. 2 inteaching the scales of A minor and E minor respectively; and

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the location of the device of Fig. 2 inteaching the harmonic form of E minor, and the melodic form of E minor,respectively.

The major scale device. illustrated in Fig. 1, has a set of 8 elements(which I have found may be conveniently termed syllable keys), do, re,mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do, equally spaced. Each of these elementsrepresenting the corresponding tone in the scale. The elements mi and faand the elements ti and do are joined together by bridging members 11and 12 respectively. These foregoing parts constitute the operative partof the device. They may be mounted in any suitable manner, as, forexample, on a bar 13, con

nected to a handle ll by wires The sizev of the device should be suchthat it may be used conveniently alon de the staff as t traced by astall marker.

In using this device for pitch drill it may be held in the left hand,and with the syllables toward the pupil, the teacher pointing to firstone syllable key and then to another as the pupils sing. In this use thedevice is a substitute for the teachers hand, but it is a greatimprovement, for the syllables are written on the syllable keys so thatthere can be no confusion, and the scale form constantly before thechildren during the drill.

In teaching the scales and for scale practice, also in teaching thedevelopment of signatures, and transposition from key to key, the devicemay be held overthe staff as drawn on the board by the stall-marker. asillustrated in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive.

In Fig. 3 the device is shown in position for the C majorscale. It willbe apparent that do falls on the first added line below,

. which is c, and which note names the scale.

. withfe and f on the piano, and the bridg-'- The bridging member 11comes between the first line and the first space which correspond ingmember 12 'comesbetween the third line and the third space whichcorrespond with band .c on the piano. .These halt steps are fixed. Thatis from e to i and from b to c is always a half step and likewise .inevery major scale there must be a half step between mi and' faandbetween ti and do.

InFig. i the device is placed in position for the-scale oiG major. Docoming on :g,

the second line, the half-step bridging member 11 comlng between b cwhere there is allialf step, and the bridging member 12 between it and gwhere there is a whole step. The whole step must come be: tween la andti and the half step between t1 and do which is" accomplished by placinga sharp hbefore the F. "This gives the sig-- step between the syllablesmi and fa it is necand the pupils then sing intervals as do'"'mi.'solmido to get into the tonality 'essary'to drop b" one-halt step.To do'this a fiat (b) isplaced before b. This mark is shown in thesignature of F major as illus trated in the figure.

In transposing from fromC to "G major, while the pupils sing do sol (5)in C the device is heldas in Fig. 3, then as the pupils modulate (solodo) to get do .(1) in G major, the device is quickly changed to theposition Fig. at

of G major. This plan 'can'be' ollowed for all transpositions andmodulations. 7

In drilling for rapid sight-reading the device may be placed in any keyposition as, for example, in Fig. 4. Observe that do is on the secondline and misolti are on the third, fourth, and fifth lines respectively.

. Also observe that rei'a lado (8)are in the second, third and fourthspacefi, and space above respectively. Further note that solbelow is ina space (the second space below do (1)). When the position is changedasin Fig. 5 this order is reversed.

From these figures it is believed to be ap-' parent that the device maybe use-d in teaching all the major scales, also how the signaturesofallthese scales may be developed and how to transpose from one major keyto another. V

' The minor scale device, illustrated in Fig. 2, has the sameset of 8elements, or sylthe G pitch pipe as lable keys, do, re, me, fa, sol, la,ti, do,

with the bridging members 11 and 12, which were present in themajorscale device, to; gether with a second set'of 8 elements, or

syllable keys, la, a, do, re, mi, fa,

sol la re resentin corres oil-din tones in the scale. It is alsoprovided with bridging. members 16 and 17 in the positions indicated.

This devicealso has'elements ii and si representing the notes ii and s1;these elements being mounted so that they may be obscured b the elementsta and sol or in an con- -venient manner which permits their being outof sight when unnecessary. The elements la, ti, do, re, me, ta, sol, la,are mounted on a'bar 1 8 and the elements.

sol, ti-ti, are connected by bars 19 to 2 i' inclusive. The minor scaledevice maybe a complete dQVlCE, or, as is apparent, may be made'bysuitably fastening the additional 1 parts onto the major scalefdevice'.

In teaching the. minor scales, their sign-atures and transpositionfroni'key to key the combination device may be used in conned t-ion withthe stafi drawn by" the staii Q marker. as previously describedinexplainingthe use of the major scale device.

In Fig. 6 the device is shown in position for the A minor scale. la ison a, the 2nd added line below; do is one'c, the first added line below;this makes C the relative major scale and both scales are shown in thedevice. The half steps coincbetweenfibl and Fc and between e and f,therefore there are sharps or flats in the signature.

In Fig. -7 the device is shown in position for the minor scale la is onfef. do is on g, G" is therelative major scale, the halfsteps comebetween t and g and between i b and c. This essitates a sharp ion withbefore i as ezc lainrml in connex- Fig. -for the G major scale, thusmaking 1 sharp-the signature for the Eminor scale.

All other'minor scales maybe developed.

by using the device in the same manner, plac ing' la on the first noteof the desired scale. All SlIIllltlI" points between the major and theminor scales are graphically illustrated.

also all differences are easily discovered when this device is used inconnection with a music stafi.

In Fig. 8 the combination device is shown in position forthe E minorscale, but with the movable si element showing asrequire'd for theharmonic minor scale. This raises sol (in this case (Phone-hall step. To7 H a sharp 1s placed before that note in the scale. This sharp iscalledan accidental andis not used in the signature.

In Fig. 9 the combination device is again shown in position for E minor,but this time both the movable elements ti and si are shown in theascendlng scale, causing sharps to be placed before both "0 and d whilein:

the descending scale the movable elements fi and si are withdrawn totheir place of concealment behind fa and sol, causing natural signs (la)to be placed before d and c. This is the melodic minor scale, having thesixth and seventh tones raised ascending, and lowered to their naturalposition descending. p

These devices can be used in numerous ways for teaching or illustratingimisic theory and practice. It is obvious from these illustrations thatthe devices herein described can be used in an exceedingly large numberof ways for teaching music theory and practice. In fact there are nopoints to be covered in keys, scales, or signatures, which cannot bemade more clear by use of the device.

that I claim is:

1. A unitary appliance for musical instruction, comprising a framehaving representations of the tones of a major musical scale positionedthereon to show their position on a staff, and means for supporting saidframe whereby the same may be superimposed upon or removed from a staff.

2. A unitary appliance for musical instruction, comprising a framehaving representations of the tones of a minor musical scale positionedthereon to show their position on a staff, and means for supporting saidframe whereby the same may be superimposed upon or removed from a staff.

3. A unitary appliance for musical instruction, comprising a framehaving representations of the tones of a harmonic minor scale positionedthereon to show their position on a staff, and means for supporting saidframe whereby the same may be superimposed upon or removed from a staff.

4. A unitary appliance for musical instruction, comprising a framehaving representations of the tones ofa melodic minor scale positionedthereon to-show their position on a staff, and means for supporting saidframe whereby the same may be superimposed upon or removed from a staff.

5. A unitary appliance for musical instruction, comprising a framehaving representations of the tones of a major musical scale positionedthereon to show their position on a stafi, certain of said tonerepresentations being joined together by elements which represent thelocation of half-steps in said musical scale, and means for supportingsaid frame whereby the same may be superimposed upon or removed from astaff.

6. A unitary appliance for musical instruction, comprising a framehaving representations of the tones of a minor musical scale positionedthereon to show their position on a staff, certain of said tonerepresentations being joined together by elements which represent thelocation of half-steps in said musical scale, and means for sup portingsaid frame whereby the same may be superimposed upon or removed from asentations of the tones of a major musical i111 scale and a minormusical scalepositioned thereon to show their position on a staff,certain of said tone representations being joined together by elementswhich represent the location of half-steps in one of said musicalscales, and means for supporting said frame whereby the same may besuperimposed upon or removed from a staff.

9. A unitary appliance for musical instruction, comprising a framehaving representations of the tones of a major musical scale and a minormusical scale positioned thereon to show their position on a staff,certain of said tone representations being joined together by elementswhich represent the location of half-steps in both of said musicalscales, and means for supporting said frame whereby the same may besuperimposed upon or removed from a stafi.

10. A unitary appliance for musical instruction, comprising a framehaving representations of the tones of a natural minor scale positionedthereon to show their position on a staff, certain of said tonerepresentations being associated with movably mounted elementsadjustable into either of two positions, in one position representingthe raised step si of the harmonic minor scale one-half step higher thansol in the natural minor scale, and in the other position beingconcealed by the element sol, and means for supporting said framewhereby the same may be superimposed upon or removed from a staff.

11. A unitary appliance for musical instruction, comprising a framehaving repre-- sentations of the tones of a natural minor scalepositioned thereon to show their position on a staff, and arepresentation for the tone of the raised step si of the harmonic minorscale one-half step higher than sol in the natural minor scale, andmeans for supporting said frame whereby the same may be superimposedupon or removed from a staff.

12. A unitary appliance for musical instruction, comprising a framehaving representations of the tones of a natural minor scale positionedthereon to show their position on a staff, certain of said tonerepresent-ations being ,jassociated with movably mounted elementsadjustable into either of two positions, in" one position representingthe raised sixth and seventh tones ii and si of the ascending melodicminor scale, and inthe other position being concealed by the elementsrepresenting fa and sol of the jde scending melodic minor scale, andmeans for supporting said frame vwherebythe same may be superimposedupon or removed from a staff: I 7 13. A unitary appliance for mus cal nstruction, comprising frame hav ng representations of the tones o f'amajor musical 7 struction, comprising a frame having represcalepositioned thereon to show their position o'nia staff and toy-showpitch-independently of said staff, and a handle forsupportmg said tra newhereby the same may be superimposed upon or removed from a staff orheld in the ,han'd for pitch drills.

rlfly A unitary appliance for musical 1nsentations of-Qt-he tones c1": aminor musical 7 scale positioned thereon to shou theirpositioniongagstafii and to show pitch independently of said staff, anda handle for supportingsaid frame-whereby the same may besuperimposeduponor removed from a stall or held in the hand for. pitchdrills,

V st'ruction, comprlsing a frame havingrepre- .s'entations of the tonesof a mayor musical scale positioned thereon to show their posi tion on astaff and toshow pitch ndependntly' of said sta :c rtam f hese emenbeing joined together ,to represent the leca-v tion,of half steps insaid-musicalscale, and a handle for supporting said frame whereby thesame may he superimposed upon or removed from staff or held inth'e handfor pitch-drills. I

16,;A unitary appliance for musical instruct-ion,comprising a framehaving representations of the tones of a .minor musical I scalepositioned thereon to show their posit o Q a stain d ta h iv Pit h i ePPl -V ent'lyoi said stafi, certain of these elements being joinedtogether to represent the location of half steps in 'saidvmusical scaleand 1a handle for supporting said frame whereby the {same maybesuperimposed upon orremoved from a stafi or heldfin the hand fer.

p tch ri a 17. A unitary appliance for musical instruct-ion,'comprising. a frame having" representations of'the tones or" a nagormus cal scaleandthe tones of a minor musical scale positioned thereon toshow their positien on aistatf and to Show pitch independently of saidstafifl an d a handle for supporting said frame whereby thesame may be.superimp sed upon or removed'from astaifor held 1 in the. hand for pitchdrills.

15. A unitary appliance for musical in-' unitary. appliance vformusicalin-i l -11 31 QQ QPIlS Qg @flfii ha ms z i ip l sentations oi the tonesof .a major musical scale and the tones of a minorvmusicelscalepositioned thereon to Show. their position on a stafi and tovshow pitchindependently of said stafffcertain ofthese'elements' beingsealepositioned thereon to shoivtheir posia l0 joinedtogetherby elementswhich represent tionon a staff andto show pitch independr' ently or saidstaff, certain ,of said tone.

representations being associated With movoftwo positions, inone positionrepresenting the raised sixth and seventh tones ti and si oi theascending melod c minor-scale, and

in the other position loeimg concealed by the elements representing taand sol of the descending melodic minor scale, and a handle forsupporting said'iramei whereby the same may be superimposed uponorremoved from a stafi or held in the hand for pitch-drills.

20. A unitary appliance for musical in: struction, comprisinga framehaving repres sentations of the-tones of a "major musical scalepositioned thereon to show their position on a stafi and to shop ,pitchindependently of said staff being marked with syllable names, and ahandle for supporting d f m wher y thesame may s per-a imposed upon orremoved from a staff or held in the hand for pitch drills.

21. A unitary appliance for musical in.-

structiomcon prisinga frame havingrep're- F sentations of the tones ofminor musical scale positioned thereon to sho v their PQSl-f i n n a standa shew P h d pendently oflsaid stafi iand being marked with syllablenames,and a handle for supporting l i am wh e y he am may up r imposedupon or removed from a staff or held inthehand for pitch drills. 7

.22. A'unitary'applianc'e for musical in-' struction, comprising a framehaving representatlons of the tones of a ma or musical scale vand of amlnor mus cal scale posiably mounted elements adjustable ,into eithertioned thereon to show their osition on i P a stafiand-to showpitchindependently ofsaid Stitfi. and being marked with syllable names,

and a handle for supportingi'said irame whereby the same may be.superimposed upon or removed from a stall or held in the handior pitchdrills.

23. A unitary appliance .tor musical instruction, comprising a .framehavingrepresentations of the tones of a natural llllIlOl scalepositionedthereon'toshow their position on a stafi and to showpitch-independently q fi d Ste and bei m rk th syllable names, certainof said tone 181318- elements representing to and sol of the sentationsbeing associated with inovably descending melodic minor scale, and ahannionnted elements adjustable into either of dle for supporting saidframe whereby the 1 two positions, in one position representing $211116may be superimposed upon or removed the raised sixth and seventh tonesii and si from a staff or held in the hand for pitch of the ascendingmelodic minor scale, and in drills.

the other position being concealed by the JESSIE F. MANN.

